BUSINESS WIRE
Both Type 1 and 2 diabetes are on the rise nationally, and in Minnesota,
one in four either have diabetes or are at risk of developing it,
compared to one in five in 2006. According to the Minnesota Department
of Health, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among Minnesotans
age 20-74. Between 500 and 800 Minnesotans become blind annually due to
complications of this disease.
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease associated with
diabetes. According to the Minnesota Optometric Association (MOA), early
treatment of retinopathy reduces the incidence of severe vision loss by
50-60 percent.
“November is Diabetes Month, a good time to
raise awareness of diabetes-related eye heath,”
said Dr. Tina McCarty, President of the Minnesota Optometric Association
(MOA) Board of Trustees, and an optometrist practicing at the Eye Care
Center, with offices in Fridley and Maplewood, Minnesota. “Diabetes
can be managed through an integrated health management program that
includes comprehensive eye exams annually. People may not realize that
diabetes can also cause vision changes that require regular exams,”
Dr. McCarty added.
An estimated 60 percent of those with Type 1 diabetes for 10 years will
have some signs of retinopathy, and after 15 years, virtually all Type 1
diabetic patients will have retinopathy. The first stages of retinopathy
may not be discernable to the patient, but early detection and treatment
is vital to prevent vision loss. Cataracts and glaucoma are also more
common among diabetics.
Diabetic retinopathy is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the
retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, retinal blood vessels
may swell and leak fluid; in others, abnormal new blood vessels grow on
the surface of the retina. These changes may result in vision loss or
blindness.
Diabetic retinopathy also should be managed by taking prescribed
medications as instructed, staying with a healthy diet, exercising
regularly, controlling high blood pressure and blood sugars and avoiding
alcohol and smoking.
The Minnesota Optometric Association (MOA) recommends you see your
family eye doctor right way if you have any of the following problems:
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Your vision is blurry
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You see double, spots or floaters
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One or both eyes hurt
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You feel pressure in your eye
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You can't see things at the periphery as well as before
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You have trouble reading
The Minnesota Optometric Association has 525 member doctors of
optometry around the state. The MOA is committed to furthering awareness
of optometrists as primary eye care or family eye doctors and to
bringing about change that positively impacts the MOA member doctors and
their patients. For more information on the MOA, visit www.minnesotaoptometrists.org.